Agricultural implement



May 23, 1939. A. J. OLSON AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed June 14, 1937 .2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 w 0/0 l 0 o 2 o l/w a M w w wm o w 4 6 m W0 ,/0 w/w a w \l 0 W o J 4 m L? 4 M 4 h HIS ATTORNEYS May 23, 1939. A, J. OLSON 2,159,448

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed June 14, 1937 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n I. III/11111111114: IE2

. mvan'ron HIS ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1939 Albert J. Olson, Niles, Ill. Application June 14; 1937, Serial No. 148,202

3Clalms.

My invention relates to agricultural implements and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved garden cultivator. 5 In the accompanyng drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view 01 my invention showing it attached to a small tractor;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 m o s- Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 4-4 Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 3-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is .a view taken from the position indicated by line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of one of the depth limiting skids taken from the-position indicated by line 9-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use oi a tractor II! which may be of anyone of the many types now employed for pulling garden cultivators. In Figs. land 2, I illustrate the tractor as being provided with two beams [2 which constitute a drawbarior the cultivator i4. Handles Ital-e fixedly connected with the tractor [0 for steering purposes, and the tractor includes the usual traction wheels l3. The specific construction ofthe tractor as well as controls therefor are well known in the art and need not be described in. further detail.

Specifically. my garden cultivator comprises a head 23 mounted on the beams i2 and to which the cultivator I4 is operatively connected. Head 20 comprises a plate 22 bolted to the beams H by bolts 24. The plate includes two side walls 26 provided with openings 23 for supporting the ends of shafts or bars 30 having their ends positioned within the openings 23 and fixedly con nected with the sides bykey pins 32. In Figs. 1 and 4, I illustrate a coupling member 34 which is slidably connected with the bars 30 and to which the cultivator I4 is pivotally connectedfor movement'about a vertical axis. Coupling member 34 includes two bored pro- -jections 33 which loosely receive the bars 30. The bars are arranged in parallel relation so as to guide the coupling member 34 as it moves laterally of the plate 22. In Fig. 5, I illustrate a tension spring 33 as having one end connected with one of the walls 26 and one of the extensions 36 while a tension spring 40 connects the other extension 35 with the opposite wall 26. With the springs arranged according to Fig. 5, their opposing tension normally maintains the coupling member 34 centrally of the plate 22, as

illustrated in Fig. 1.

threaded into the post 42.

Coupling member 34 is provided with a raised surface 48 upon which the lever 44 rests, and a bolt 50 is threaded into the coupling member 34 centrally of the raised surface for operatively connecting the lever 44 with the coupling member. The lever is slotted at 52 for loosely receiving the bolt 50, which slot is of sufllcient length to permit the lever 44 to be pivoted about the axis of the bolt 46.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lever 44 is provided with lateral extensions 54 to which pull wires or cables 58 are connected. Fig. 6 illustrates the walls 26 as being provided with bosses 58 upon which grooved sheaves 60 are rotatably mounted through the medium of bolts 62 having threaded relation with the bosses only. Cables 36 extend along the handles it and are connected with levers 64 at their lower ends, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Each lever is pivotally connected at 66 with its respective handle l6 and includes a spring 68 of sufllcient stiffness to take up slack in its'cable. Levers l6 are arranged in close relation with the grips 10 to be easily accessible. I

The cultivator l4 normally assumes the position oi Fig. 1 with 'respect to the tractor. but in cases where the tractor might run closer to one row than'the other, the cultivator may be shifted laterally of the tractor through manipulation of the levers 84.

If the lever 64 associated with the upper handle when viewingFig. 1 is shifted, the pull on the cable 58 associated therewith causes the lever 44 to pivot upwardly, which shifts the cultivator l4 to the right with respect to the path 01' travel of the tractor.

Similarly, a pull position.

It is advisable to provide a pivotal connection between the cultivator and the connecting bar 34. To this end the coupling bar 34 is provided with a depending shaft 12 (see Fig.4) which terminates in a flange I4 rotatably housed within a groove 16 in a vertical bar' 18. A washer encircles the shaft I2 and is bolted to the flange 82 at the upper end of the bar 18 for rotatably connecting the shaft 12 with the bar. Flange 82 includes a peripheral groove 84 which provides a track for tension wires 86. nected with a bolt 88 having threaded relation with the flange 82, and the opposite ends of .the wires are connected with lugs depending from the coupling member 34. Wires 86 are of equal tension and tend to maintain the cultivator I4 in the position of Fig. 1. However, the cultivator may pivot about the shaft I2 as an axis, but pivotal movement in either direction will increase the tension of one spring. Thus, the cultivator I4 may be shifted laterally by pivoting the tractor I0 about a vertical axis through the medium of the handles I6 for acurately guiding the cultivator with respect to the rows on either side. Because of the pivotal connection between the cultivator and the tractor; the tractormay be easily turned about a vertical axis without removing the cultivator from the soil. Immediately after shifting the cultivator laterally about the axis of the shaft I2, the springs 86 will again position the cultivator according to Fig. 1.

Bar I8 is positioned between two plates 92 formed integrally with a beam 94 to which the wings or bars 96 which carry the cultivating tools 98 are connected. The lower end of the bar I8 is pivotally connected at I00 between the plates 92, and the plates are provided with aligned openings I02 for selectively receiving the bolt I04 which connects the bar 18 as a unit with the plates 92. By shifting the bolt I04 to different aligned openings I02, the cultivator may be adjusted for depth and proper alignment with respect to the ground surface.

Beam 30 includes two spaced lugs I06 on each side between which the forward ends of the bars.

96 are pivotally connected by means of bolts; I08.

Bars 96 are pivoted about the axes of the [bolts I08 for changing the angularity between the bars securely fastening the bars 96 in various adjusted positions. Upon the beams 94 I mount a plate IIO (see Figs. 4 and 5). This plate includes a slot II2 parallelingthe beam 94 and is provided with two slightly curved slots II4 ar-- ranged at acute angles to the beam but reversely of the angularity between the bars 96 and the beam. Each bar 96 includes a pin II6 loosely positioned within its respective slot II4. In reference to Fig. 5, it will be noted that if the plate I I0 is pushed forwardly of the beam 94, the slots II4 co-act on the pins II6 for bringing the bars 96 closer together. Fig. 5 illustrates maximum separation between the bars 96, but the slots II4 are of sufficient length to bring the bars 96 substantially into parallel relation. Thus, a large range of adjustment is attained for the bars so as to adapt the cultivator to various conditions of service.

A hand screw II8 has threaded relation with the beam 94 (see Fig. 4) and includes a shoulder I20 arranged to press the,plate II 0 against the beam 94 to preventrelative movement therebetween. A second bolt I22 extends through the slot 2 and has threaded relation with the One end of each wire 86 is conbeam 94.. This bolt constitutes a guide only for the plate I I0 to prevent pivotal movement of the plate about the axis of the hand bolt H8. The plate IIO may be easily and quickly adjusted by merely unloosening the bolt II 8 and pushing the plate forwardly or rearwardly and then tightening the bolt. Fixedly connected with the rear end of the beam 94 is a supporting loop I24 for the bars 96. This loop comprises upper and lower reaches I26 and I28, respectively, between which the bars 96 move freely, and the reaches I26 and I28 are integrally connected by end reaches I30. Loop I24 cooperates with the lugs I08 and the bolts I08 for supporting the bars 96 while the reaches I26 and I28 perform a supporting function in all positions of the bars 96.

Each tool 98 comprises a shank I32, to the lower end of which a cultivating shoe I34 is attached as by means of a. bolt I36. The shoes I34 may take the size and configuration of anyone of many conventional shoes. The leading tool 98 has the upper end of its shank I32 positioned within a slot I38 -in the pin 94. The shank I32 is pivotally connected with the beam 94 by a bolt I40 and is provided with a plurality of openings I42 for the reception of a bolt I44 which passes through the beam.- Thus, the shank I32 may be adjusted to various angular positions by shifting the bolt I44 to the desired opening I42 in the shank.

The remaining shanks I32 are also pivotallyconnected for adjustment in the manner of the leading shank I32, but the remaining shanks are connected with supporting brackets I46 attached to the bars 96. Figs. 5, 7, and 8 best illustrate the specific construction of the brackets I46. All the brackets are identical in construction so that the description of one will refer to all. Fig. 7 illustrates the bracket I46 as being U-shaped with the shank I32 attached to the bight of the bracket. The legs of the bracket pass over the upper and lower edges of the bar 96 and are firmly secured thereto by two bolts I48 (see Figs. 5 and '7). The bars 96 are provided with additional material at I50 for supporting the bolts I48.

Referring again to Fig. 5, the rear ends of the brackets I46 are provided with a plurality of openings I52 for selective reception of the rear bolt I44 associated with the individual bracket. Thus, each bracket may be pivoted about its forward bolt I48 as an axis to vary the angularity of the tool 98 associated with that bracket. Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the shanks I32, with the exception of the forward shank, are pivotally connected with the brackets I46 for pivotal movement in the same manner as the forward shank I32. In Fig. 4. I illustrate the remaining shanks I32 as being provided with a plurality of holes I54 corresponding to the holes I42 for the reception of bolts I56. The brackets I46 carry rivets I58 (see Fig. 8) for pivotally connecting the shanks therewith. It will thus be seen that all the shanks I32 may be adjusted in the same manner.

To the rear shanks I32 I connect skids I60 which support the load of the rear end of the cultivator I4 and act as guides for limiting the depth of cut. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I illustrate the specific construction of the skids I60. Each of the two rear shanks I32 is provided with a bracket I62 which is bolted at I64 to its respective shank. In Fig. 2, the forked member I66 is pivotally connected at I68 to its respective bracket I62. Bracket I62 includes two spaced lugs I10 bored at I12 for rotatably supporting a shaft "4' having threaded relation with a screw I16. The forked member I66 includes two spaced lugs I18 provided with bores I88 for rotatably supporting a shaft I82. This shaft is bored for loosely receiving the reduced shank I84 on the lower end of the screw I16, which shank is upset at I86 to prevent withdrawal of the shank, but the construction is such as to permit the screw to be rotated through the medium of hand wheel I88. Thus, the outer end of the forked 'memberI 66 may be raised or lowered about its axis I68 for limit- Y ing the cultivating depth of the tools 98.

While the cultivator I4 is connected with the tractor III for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the cultivator is incapable of pivotal action about a horizontal axis. Thus, in lifting the handles I 6 upwardly at their outer ends, the cultivator may be lifted clear of the ground. To vary the depth of cut of the cultivator, the beam 94 is adjusted about'the axis of the bolt I88 and the skids I60 adjusted accordingly. If the beam 94 were maintained at an angle of 90 to the axis of the shaft I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2, lowering of the handles I 6 would cause the cultivator to cut considerably deeper atlits rear end than at its forward end. To cut deeper' uniformly throughout the full length of the cultivator, it is necessary that the beam 94 be adjusted about the axis of the bolt I88 so as to define an acute angle to the'axis of the shaft I2. If a shallower cut is desired, the beam is adjusted to define an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the shaft 12.

All the tools 98 are adJustably mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal axes while all the tools in the rear of the leading tool are additionally mounted for pivotal movement about vertical axes. Thus, the tools may be adjusted about their horizontal axes for accommodating the tools to diiferent soil conditions and angular ,7 relation with respect to the soil being cultivated.

Adjustment of the tools about a vertical axis permits precise adjustment for accommodating different angular relations between the bars 96.

Fig. 5 illustrates the two brackets I46 immediately in the rear of the forward tool 98 as being provided with slots I98 for accommodating the pins II6. Thus, these two brackets may be pivoted outwardly with respect to the bars 96 without interference from the pins H8. The plate III is supported by the beam 94 in spaced relation with the bars 96 so as to accommodate the brackets I46 and the bolts I48 which project above the brackets. The loop I24 isfixedly connected with the beam 94' by bolts or rivets I92 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

Y Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. An agricultural implement comprising a beam, bars adjustably connected with said beam, a plurality of soil engaging tools adjustably connected with each of said bars, said soil engaging tools being adjustable about horizontal and vertical axes, and a loop fixedly connected with said beam and encircling the bars for supporting the same.

2. The combination with a tractor, of a head attached to the tractor and having guide means extending transversely of the tractor, a cultivator including a beam, a coupling member slidable on said guide means, a vertical pivotal connection between the coupling member and said beam, resilient means co-operable on said coupling member and the head for yieldingly supporting the former in a normal position, and manually actuated means operatively connected with said coupling member for shifting the same in either direction from its normal position along said guide means.

3. The combination with a tractor, of a head attached to the tractor and having guide means extending transversely of the tractor, a cultivator including a beam. a coupling member slidable on said guide means, a vertical pivotal connection between the coupling member and said beam, resilient means co-operable on said coupling member and the head for yieldingly supporting the former in a normal position, manually actuated means operatively connected with said coupling member for shifting the same in either direction from its normal position along said guide means, and resilient means co-operable on said coupling member and a portion of said vertical pivotal connection for yieldingly restraining the cultivator from lateral displacement about the axis of the vertical pivotal connection.

ALBERT J. OLSON. 

